The mile hike that never was

Wednesday.

It's about 90 degrees outside. Sun is hot. 4 pm. Hiking? Why not?

The plan was to go on a short afternoon hike up to Battle Creek Falls right? This wonderful trail goes through a canyon and is only about a mile long. Most of the journey made in shade.

Instead. I followed my driving directions exactly as they said. Unfortunately. . . I didn't realize that I wasn't even close to Pleasant Grove. In fact, I was still in Orem. And the streets I was turning on, following my written directions pertained to Pleasant Grove. Not Orem.

So we ended up in Dry Canyon. The trail looked fine. I knew it wasn't the right trail. But upon looking at a map at the trail head, we noticed that it would end up at Battle Creek Falls eventually. Why not? Right?

We hiked from Orem all the way to Pleasant Grove. All along the mountain ridge. There were so many little side trails it's hard to know if we were ever fully on the main trail. What's more is I pulled a noob move. I only brought one bottle of water and no snacks. The sun was unforgiving, no shade--if very little. Thinking that the trail would go down into the canyon at some point, I suggested we keep heading on trails that led downward. That we did.

And eventually, we made it down into the parking lot, at the beginning of the trail that led to Battle Creek Falls. There we found cub scouts, youth activities, and a gaggle of people. I was grateful for the water fountain. Drank long and deep. I'm sure we looked pretty gross. Sweaty. Sun burned. Maybe a few twigs in my hair and dirt covering my feet and ankles (Chaco loving!). And yes, we did continue on the way up to see that darn waterfall. And yes, I did stand underneath. It was brilliantly cold and refreshing.

There was really no way in hell I was going to hike UP that mountain another 7 miles to return to the car.
We hitchhiked.

With a youth group actually.
Young Women's youth group.
As we climbed into the van the Young Women's leader told all the teenage girls surrounding us to never ever ever pick up strangers!

Gosh, I'm so glad for Utahns and the Utah probability of running into a friendly Mormon being so dang high.
I'm also grateful for that drinking fountain we came upon and for the coolness of the waterfall.
I didn't get home until about 8 o' clock. What was meant to be a short 30 minute excursion up a short mile trail ended up being a 4 hour (or so) exhausting, hot, trek through weeds and dirt providing no shade whatsoever and averaging about 7 miles--8 including the trail up to the waterfall.

Woot.